Tech Mahindra expands its Diversity & Inclusion Policies to create cultural assimilation & sensitize people and provide for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
Tech Mahindra has taken up several initiatives to expand its Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) policy. The new policies are aimed at creating an inclusive workplace for all employees, and zeroes in on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, new parents, cancer patients and survivors.
Tech Mahindra has increased the flexibility in its ‘Work from Home’ policy with the aim to making it feasible for new parents (all genders) to transition into early parenthood. The new policy allows same-sex couples to avail 12 weeks of paid adoption leave. Additionally, bereavement leave of three days will also be offered to same-sex partners. The new policies also take into considerations employees who intend to change their gender with a sexual reassignment surgery. Further, support groups for employees like new parents, cancer patients/survivors and fitness & lifestyle are also being created.
“As a ‘company with a purpose’, Tech Mahindra is excited to embark on this transformational journey of empowering our associates by keeping their needs foremost. Today, the employees demand a user and customer like experience, as well as a great human experience. At Tech Mahindra, we live by the formula of HX = f (UX, CX, EX,… ) that is, Human Experience is a function of {User Experience, Customer Experience, Employee Experience}. Whether we are delivering value to our customers or empowering our associates to RiseTM, Human Experience (HX) underscores every step of our interaction journey,” said Harshvendra Soin, Chief People Officer, Tech Mahindra.
Besides these, LGBT committees called Kaleidoscope have been formed across geographies. These groups share stories of community members to the larger audience to create cultural assimilation and sensitize people.
Last year, a Tech Mahindra former employee took to Twitter to call out Richa Gautam, the then global head of training at Tech Mahindra’s Business Services Group, for mocking him due to his sexual orientation. Ironically, Gautam also headed the company’s Anti Sexual Harassment Committee, and was then Chief Diversity and Inclusivity Officer at Tech Mahindra. After a thorough investigation she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks for homosexuality and harassing a sexual minority at workplace, and was sacked from the company.
Such incidents underscore the necessity of sensitizing the masses towards the LGBTQ+ community. The initiative by Tech Mahindra is a commendable step towards making the workplace an inclusive and safe place for the LGBTQ+ community.
